Jalandhar, April 15
Former Education Minister and MLA Pargat Singh has alleged that whenever major issues arise in Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party government and the BJP-led central government often come to each other’s aid. To divert attention from these issues, the BJP and its associated groups resort to artificial tactics. He termed this not only unfortunate but also unjust to the public interest. He said both the Mann government and the BJP must answer regarding progress in action against those named in the 2015 sacrilege cases and the Maur bomb blast.
Pargat stated that the Indian National Congress clearly demands that the Punjab government under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the central government must ensure concrete and time-bound action against the accused in the 2015 sacrilege cases and the Maur blast. Delays in justice in these sensitive matters have severely shaken public trust.
Pargat further said that when farmers in Punjab are struggling to sell their crops in mandis, the state government has brought up the issue of Raghav Chadha’s security to divert attention. He questioned whether the plight of farmers is not far more serious than this issue, and asked the government to clarify whether crops are more important or the security of Raghav Chadha.
Pargat also alleged that despite Congress demanding a BBMB Dam Safety Act, the government has failed to act even after five sessions. Instead, the central government amended the law and withdrew Punjab’s permanent membership from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). He criticized Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for not opposing this move and urged him to strongly protest and take immediate steps to introduce a state-level Dam Safety Act to safeguard Punjab’s interests.
Pargat added that the Congress party has been consistently and firmly fighting for the people of Punjab and will continue to raise its voice on these issues—whether it is the matter of Chandigarh or Panjab University. In both cases, he claimed that people of Punjab collectively resisted and forced changes in the Centre’s decisions, rather than the AAP government.
Taking a dig at the Enforcement Directorate raids on the premises of Ashok Mittal, Chancellor of Lovely Professional University and AAP Rajya Sabha MP, Pargat Singh described it as “staged drama” between the AAP and the central government. He said enough theatrics have taken place and both sides should stop this and focus on Punjab’s welfare, adding that nothing substantial will emerge from such raids and they are merely a distraction tactics.
